Julius Duscha, a 1956 Nieman Fellow and the first assistant director of Stanford’s journalism fellowship program, passed away in San Francisco on July 2, 2015 at the age of 90.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1924, Duscha began his journalism career at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch before moving to Washington, D.C. There, he wrote for The Washington Post from 1958-1966, rising to the position of chief national political reporter.
Duscha later went on to become the first assistant director of Stanford University’s Professional Journalism Fellowship Program. Starting in 1968, he headed the Washington Journalism Center, a nonprofit founded by W.M. Kiplinger to recruit black liberal arts students into journalism careers. Duscha worked at the Ford Foundation-funded Center for 22 years, arranging fellowships and seminars on Washington issues for young journalists.
Duscha’s writing appeared in publications such as The Atlantic, Harper’s, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, and the Washingtonian. His work in the latter earned him a spot on Nixon’s Enemies List. Duscha was also the author of several books, including a memoir, “From Pea Soup to Politics: How a Poor Minnesota Boy Became a Washington Insider.”
He returned to San Francisco when he retired in 1990.
Duscha is survived by his wife, Suzanne, and four children: Fred, Steve, Suzanne, and Sally. A private memorial service will be held on August 6, 2015.
Learn more about Duscha's life and career.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1924, Duscha began his journalism career at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch before moving to Washington, D.C. There, he wrote for The Washington Post from 1958-1966, rising to the position of chief national political reporter.
Duscha later went on to become the first assistant director of Stanford University’s Professional Journalism Fellowship Program. Starting in 1968, he headed the Washington Journalism Center, a nonprofit founded by W.M. Kiplinger to recruit black liberal arts students into journalism careers. Duscha worked at the Ford Foundation-funded Center for 22 years, arranging fellowships and seminars on Washington issues for young journalists.
Duscha’s writing appeared in publications such as The Atlantic, Harper’s, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, and the Washingtonian. His work in the latter earned him a spot on Nixon’s Enemies List. Duscha was also the author of several books, including a memoir, “From Pea Soup to Politics: How a Poor Minnesota Boy Became a Washington Insider.”
He returned to San Francisco when he retired in 1990.
Duscha is survived by his wife, Suzanne, and four children: Fred, Steve, Suzanne, and Sally. A private memorial service will be held on August 6, 2015.
Learn more about Duscha's life and career.
